IRRIGATION FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. 14! 



problem is somewhat easier and the prices can be ararnged to coin- 

 cide with the personal element and class of supervision likely to 

 enter into the work. It is known that in many cases where the 

 material excavated should only have cost sixpence per cubic yard 

 to remove, by bad management and shortage of requisite plant 

 and tools, from 50 to 100 per cent, has been added to the cost of 

 the project. This item alone will often turn what otherwise would 

 be a payable work into a failure by over capitalisation. This 

 feature is one which is ever-present where works are constructed 

 by an Irrigation Board. The members of these Boards are unable 

 to appreciate anything but manual labour. A fussy overseer will 

 impress the members of the Board greatly, while a man of few 

 words, who calmly supervises his work and the labour is seldom 

 understood, nor are his organising abilities perceived by the average 

 shareholder. 



The Boards are inclined to engage men to be placed in charge 

 of works who have failed at other occupations in life, and are 

 content to work at a low rate of pay. Such supervision can only 

 result in loss. An urgent necessity at this moment is a band of 

 experienced, good men in the country, who can organise the build- 

 ing of canals and reservoirs with economy. This class of men is 

 to be found in every country where irrigation is proceeding. There 

 is no doubt this class of overseer will become available as the 

 development proceeds and the demand increases for men who are 

 good foremen, men who are not afraid of hard work or an isolated 

 life upon the veld, receiving adequate wages to compensate for 

 the discomforts and loneliness. 



FOOTHILL VERSUS VALLEY IRRIGATION. 



There is a strong tendency in the farming community to 

 encroach upon the lands near the headwaters of all streams, and 

 place under cultivation ground near the source of the water supply. 

 The upper proprietor is gradually, upon most rivers, steadily 

 developing and extending his farming operations higher up the 

 mountain slope to obtain a better supply of water at the expense 

 of those farms situated upon the plains. This gradual advance 

 into the mountainous regions is being attended with disastrous 

 results to the community. For the removal of the natural growth 

 upon the sloping lands high up the catchment areas is causing the 

 rainfall to flow off the land with greater rapidity year by year, . 

 resulting in the serious erosion of the country, so patent to all. 

 Usually the land situated amongst the foothills is not of such 

 fertility as to warrant its cultivation at the expense of the more 

 fertile areas at a lower level. The slope is too steep for efficient 

 irrigation, and the virgin growth, had it been allowed to remain 

 undisturbed, would have held up the rainfall and caused a slower 

 and longer run off along the drainage lines. The financial problem 

 presented here is to allow the mountain slopes and the foothills to 

 remain in a natural state and convey the water issuing on the 

 mountain range to the suitable lands' in the bed of the drainage 

 system. Now that owners are seeing the advantage of using water 

 upon the best lands there is a tendency for schemes to be devised 



